Shopping from January to February

I was supposed to be on a no-buy but... Some things I bought were definitely justified e.g. antiperspirants, nail oils, Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream (so good for winter), new hair clip/ties (but I went overboard with those too).

Anyway... altogether I spent about 357 € which is A LOT. Also, crappy photos because there is rarely any light during winter!

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream 125 ml

Exuviance Overnight Transformation Complex

From Kicks (82 €) because they were on sale and I had run out of my Kiehls mini jar and my Exuviance moisturizer is at the very end as well. They both are really, really good products for my combination skin. I bet the 125 ml jar will last me a year because a little goes a long way and my last Exuviance also has lasted me a year (haven't used it daily).

Rexona Maximum Protection Sport Strength x7

NEONAIL Cotton Pads

Essence The Nail Care Oil

Essie apricot nail & cuticle oil 

Sample Discovery Box: RedkenAll Soft, BULGARIOmnia Crystalline, Hugo BossBOSS The Scent Magnetic, KérastaseSymbiose Micro-Peeling Cellulaire, Coach Dreams

No wonder Essie's Apricot Nail Oil is such a classic and bestseller. It is really good! It feels oilier than Essence The Nail Care Oil but absorbs as well. It has quite a strong fruity scent. I bought both because I just finished Essence bottle (took 8 months) and it is so cheap that I can apply it whenever&carry it with me without a fear of losing it.

These Neonail cotton pads look perfect for doing my home gel nails. A bit of an impulse purchase. Winter has made my nails very brittle at the moment so been just babying them, no gel nails for me until spring comes I guess...

I also love sample sets. Especially perfume samples. I had been dying to try Omnia Crystalline and while it is nice (a bit like Versace Versence mixed with Tiffany&Co Sheer??) it's not a must buy. Also really didn't like The Scent Magnetic, so medicinal on me. Didn't like the other Scent perfume either that I sampled earlier. I like Coach Dreams but it is not necessarily something I would like to wear and smell of. Too sweet, overpowering somehow?

From Notino: 70 €.

NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Primer 

Bobbi Brown Luxe Eye Shadow Rich Sparkle 1,3 g – Moonstone

Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Blush 3,2 g ─ Flawless

Jane Iredale Dusty Gold Case

Kérastase Blond Absolu Cicaflash 15 ml

Definitely impulse purchases! Oi the horror, about 76 € from Cocopanda. 

Actually, Jane Iredale Blush in Flawless is the color I kinda wanted Dior's Blush Charnelle to be. Charnelle is a superbly pretty color and different from what I already had but it is more red than I thought, people kept describing it brown but it definitely is not - Flawless is brown without being brown on face and I like such a natural everyday look.

Btw Jane Iredale compacts feel so nice. They have magnets and they feel sturdy. Too bad the brand seems to have pulled out of most retailers - not sure if I can purchase more stuff more them anymore...

I had been pining after Bobbi Brown's Moonstone single for a long time! It is a perfect shade. Very sparkly. I need to work on my technique how to apply it without fall out. Not sure why it is so expensive though, this was definitely an unnecessary splurge!

Kérastase Résistance Ciment Thermique

Brushworks Nail Clipper

Invisibobble Wrapstar Snake It Off

Invisibobble Barrette – Havana Mama

Invisibobble Barrette Too Glam to Give A Damn

Kérastase Genesis Fondant Renforçateur Conditioner 10 ml

Invisibobble Clipstar Clawdia

Invisibobble Everclaw Leo Love

Invisibobble Power Crystal Clear

Invisibobble Slim Bronze Me Pretty

Invisibobble Sprunchie Magnificent Leo

Again from Cocopanda, 92 €. Was so unhappy with my hair clip/hair tie situation that I went a little overboard, also I want to style my hair more sometimes so I got Kerastase heat protectant. Haven't used it before but I do like Kerastase products that I've tried so... it can't be bad?

Invisibobble's hair tie spirals are very good and I've been using them now for several years. I did try some cheaper no-name spirals as well but did not like them. The wrapstar is actually very nice! Can't lose the ribbon when it is attached to the spiral. I wanted some hair barrettes without metal to protect my hair as well. I feel I am a little bored with my hair, defaulting to ponytail almost every day.

Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream

Eucerin Shower Oil pH5 Unscented

Nizoexpert Daily Care Shampoo

Some basics from pharmacy, about 37 €. Haven't used Nizoexpert Shampoo before but I am curious. Probably not any different than Head&Shoulders (I should buy a new H&S bottle as well). I've used the scented Eucerin shower oil before and liked it. Aveeno cream feels really nice! Leaves skin soft, not slimy at all. No scent. I thought it would have been thicker based on ingredients but it spreads and absorbs well.

Current Favorites

I choose my current favorites however and whenever I want!

Elizabeth Arden Replenishing Cleansing Oil

This is an old bottle because for some reason I felt I had to save it! And I still like it a lot and think it is probably the best one I've used. Similar to Tosowoong's Apricot Cleansing Oil that has been discontinued a long time ago. It's a bit oilier, heavier than Clinique Cleansing Oil that I also like. Miraculously it doesn't seem to be spoiled despite being expired. So I am going to enjoy it now!

A-Derma Dermalibour+ Barrier Cream

I finished my other A-Derma moisturizer/balm so moved on to this one, very similar. Calming and protecting on skin, especially now that the weather is messing with me. Contains mineral oil and oat derivates. Too bad A-Derma seems to have reformulated their products (no more mineral oil and it seems to be one of the safe occlusives for me, doesn't clog my skin or anything weird) and I'm not sure if this is still available.

Nizoral Shampoo

Good purifying treatment for the scalp and face both! Been washing my face lately with it once a day as well... winter is really messing with me and my skin condition.

Clinique Lash Power Mascara

I heard lots of good things about this mascara and it does deliver some of them! It does not smudge, it is easy to apply and you can layer it for a more impactful result, otherwise the look is natural. Also easy to wash off. 

But, it crumbles and flakes a little... Especially if I apply it on my lower lashes and the older (drier) the mascara gets. But it is not super major problem for a daily mascara as I like to skip often lower lash mascara so that my makeup doesn't feel heavy and doesn't irritate eyes.

I would not choose Lash Power for a night out or unpredictable conditions. But for everyday mascara, I might repurchase.

Dior Lip Glow Oil 020 Mahogany

Ok, I gave in and bought Dior's Lip Oil as well.

Actually, I wasn't too impressed when I tried it for the first time. The applicator felt clumsily big, product not very pigmented, no "oomph". But after a week or two of actually using it I really like it! Very comfortable on dry winter lips, easy to apply, lasts well and wears off well. Just makes my lips look naturally good for a while. Not irritating and doesn't taste of anything, no scent. 

I like the deeper shade of Lip Maximizer in Mahogany better but Lip Oil is quite a sheer product so it doesn't really matter that it is more red.

Dior Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet EdT

Yes, Blooming Bouquet was in my favorites in December as well. It is just a versatile everyday scent! I really like it. I am amazed I'm almost half way through the bottle (30 ml) in 3 months! Probably means that you have to overspray it a bit because it's not very strong or long lasting, but, to me it means that I'm not afraid to use it.